The Asheville citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1885-1889, 1887-02-03
rHE AsuEy1LLE TOBACCO MARkEr.

The AsHEYILLE TOBACCO MARKET.
Feeling assured that the tobacco mar
ket of Asheville this season was better,
under all circumstances, than ey er before,
we have endeavored to ascertain this
fact fully, and to this end have inter-
viewed the different warehousemen of
Asheville with the following results:
Major Wallace w. Rollins, of the Far
mer's Warehouse-himselfa pioneer in
the growth of tobacco in this section and
who for many years patronized the
Lynchburg and other markets says the
crop of last year throughout this section
was at least 40 per cent. short of the
previous crop in bulk, but much better
average in quality was obtained, gener-
ally brightS being cured. But notwith-
standing this shortness of crop, the sales
on this market this winter will exceed
the prices obtained will be decidedly
proved. This result is brought about by
the sale here this winter of a large guam
tity of tobacco that has heretofore found
its way to Lynchburg, Danville and other
markets, the farmer now being satisfied
with the prices obtained IN the Ashe-
vile market, which will compare favor
ably with any other market in the coun-
try, both in prices obtained and the
quality of tobacco offered. The farmers
generally and almost absolutely are salts
fed with prices obtained here this sea-
son. The number of buyers on the Ashe-
vile market are more numerous this
winter, and they have ordersenough from
the large centres, both east and west, to
take up the entire crop of Western North
Carolina. Major Rollins said the Ashe-
vile tobacco market was unq questionably
improving rapidly and all the warehouses
are doing good business speaking for
his own warehouse, the Farmers, they
had already sold as much this season as
their house sold last season in its entirety.
In reply as to what the farmers would
do the coming season, Major Rollins said
his information led him to believe that
the acreage planted the present year
would be even smaller than that planted
last year, but that the crop would be bet
ter handled and better cured-a result
devoutly wished for by those having the
best interests of the tobacco market at
stake.
P Or. ]. NJ, Stevens, ets tfFS Bzacenlbe
warehouse, thought that last years crop
would result in from 65 to 70 per cent. OF
the previous crop, but that the grade was
decidedly better and commanded much
better prices on the market. The breaks
thus far, this season, had been uniformly
good, and satisfactory prices had been
obtained, the farmers, in all cases within
his knowledge, having been satisfied
but he felt that the tobacco growers OF
this country must work to raise bright
tobacco-this country was peculiarly
adapted to the growth of brights, while
other sections could only grow the heavy
tobacco, and We could not compete v ith
them. He would urge small acre
age and better average in
in grades-three acres in tobacco we'll
n anaged would give better net results
than 10 acres of Indifferent handling.
He believes that half of last years crop
/ is still in the hands of the planter.
There are more buyers in the market
than ever before and the shipment of
tobacco this winter to other markets
have been less than ever before.
Mr.. J. H. Carter, auctioneer at the
Banner Warehouse, agrees in the main
with what We have quoted from Messrs.
Rollins and Stevens; the Asheville mar
ket is decidedly on boom this winter,
and good and satisfactory prices are be-
ped than ever heretofore, and the indica-
tions are that the farmers will soon be-
come satisfied with the Asheville market.
His information is that the acreage of
tobacco the coming season will be even
larger than heretofore, for while many
will plant less quantity, many others
will be tempted to go into the growth of
tobacco who have not heretofore .cultiva-
ted it.
Mr.. Carter advises, and in this we
heartily sustain him, that every farmer
look to the growth of the necessaries of
life first, and then to his tobacco crop
plant only just SO much land in tobacco
as can be handled without interfering
with the necessaries, and then handle the
tobacco well; do not ruin the land by
growing inferior tobacco, as it will not
pay for the trouble.